BELGIUM

Country Profile Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy. Disputes none Location Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands Coordinates 50° 49.98' N 4° 0' E Capital Brussels Main Cities Antwerp, Bruges, Charleroi, Ghent, Liege Area 30528 km2 Boundaries (km) 1,385 - France 620, Germany 167, Luxembourg 148, Netherlands 450 Coastline (km) 66.5 Timezone (GMT) 1 Population 10,403,951 (July 2008 est.) Public Holidays 21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King Leopold I Currency euro (EUR) GDP $376 billion (2007 est.) Main Exports machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs Climate temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy Natural Hazards flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes Physical Features Ardennes, Meuse river, flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills Environmental Agreements party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Flag Country Map(s)

Population and Demographics

Belgium has a population of 10,403,951 (July 2008 est.) .

Capital	Brussels
Main urban areas	Antwerp, Bruges, Charleroi, Ghent, Liege
Ethnic groups	Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
Languages spoken	Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)

Population age 0-14: 16.3% (m 864,287/f 828,435) 15-64: 66.3% (m 3,476,802/f 3,416,383) 65+: 17.5% (m 751,745/f 1,066,299) (2008 est.)
	0-14	15-64	65+
Gender ratios At birth: 1.04 m/f , 0-14: 1.04 m/f , 15-64: 1.02 m/f , 65+: 0.71 m/f Total population: 0.96 m/f (2008 est.)

Changing Population (Life expectancy, births, deaths and fertility)

The population growth rate for Belgium is 0.106% (2008 est.) (world growth rate at 2006 is 1.14%). The country also saw migration of 1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.). The median age of the country is total: 41.4 years male: 40.2 years female: 42.7 years (2008 est.).

Note: on the graphs, world figures are represented by a red bar, figures for Belgium are illustrated with a green bar.

Life Expectancy:	Total population: 79.07 years Male: 75.9 years Female: 82.38 years (2008 est.)	[79.07] [64.77] [ Male:, m] [63.16, m] [, f] [66.47, f]
Fertility:	1.65 children born/woman (2008 est.)	[1.65] [2.59]
Births:	10.22 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)	[10.22] [20.05]
Deaths:	10.38 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)	[10.38] [8.67]
Infants:	Total: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births Male: 5.06 deaths/1,000 live births Female: 3.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)	[4.5] [48.87] [5.06, m] [50.98, m] [3.92, f] [46.65, f]

Economic Data

Economy Overview
This modern, private-enterprise economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north. With few natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. Roughly three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Public debt is more than 85% of GDP. On the positive side, the government has succeeded in balancing its budget, and income distribution is relatively equal. Belgium began circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in 2001-03 dropped sharply because of the global economic slowdown, with moderate recovery in 2004-07. Economic growth and foreign direct investment are expected to slow down in 2008, due to credit tightening, falling consumer and business confidence, and above average inflation. However, with the successful negotiation of the 2008 budget and devolution of power within the government, political tensions seem to be easing and could lead to an improvement in the economic outlook for 2008.

Debt and Aid
Debt: $1.313 trillion (30 June 2007)
Aid Given: ODA, $1.978 billion (2006)
Aid Received: $NA

Labour Force
Number in labour force: 4.96 million (2007 est.)
Sectors: agriculture: 2% industry: 25% services: 73% (2007 est.)
Unemployment: 7.5% (2007 est.)

GDP Facts and Figures
Currency: euro (EUR)
GDP: $376 billion (2007 est.)
GDP Per Capita: $35,300 (2007 est.)
GDP Real Growth: 2.7% (2007 est.)
GDP Composition: agriculture: 1.1% industry: 24.5% services: 74.4% (2007 est.)
Production Growth Rate: 3% (2007 est.)

Industries, Land Use and Resource Consumption
Industries: engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum
Land use: arable land: 27.42% permanent crops: 0.69% other: 71.89% note: includes Luxembourg (2005)
Exports: machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs
Electricity Consumption: 82.99 billion kWh (2005)
Natural Gas Consumption: 16.61 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Oil Consumption: 591,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Country Outline Map

Geographic Data
Belgium is located in Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands, in the timezone GMT 1. The country has boundaries of 1,385 - France 620, Germany 167, Luxembourg 148, Netherlands 450 (km), and a coastline of 66.5 (km). Major urban areas: Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges, Charleroi, Ghent, Liege.

Elevations
Lowest point: North Sea 0 m
Highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m

Physical Features
Ardennes, Meuse river, flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills

Hazards
Flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes

Climate
Temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy

Natural Resources
Construction materials, silica sand, carbonates

Land Use
Arable land: 27.42% permanent crops: 0.69% other: 71.89% note: includes Luxembourg (2005)

Renewable Water Resources
20.8 cu km (2005)

Fresh Water Withdrawal
total: 7.44 cu km/yr (13%/85%/1%) per capita: 714 cu m/yr (1998)

Environmental Issues
The environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) had slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges

Detailed country map

Transport and Communications

A selection of key transport and communications information for Belgium

Number of main telephone lines
4.719 million (2006)

Mobile (cellular) phones
9.66 million (2006)

Radio stations
AM 7, FM 79, shortwave 1 (1998)

Television stations
25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)

Internet users
4.8 million (2005)

Country internet code
.be

Railways
total: 3,521 km standard gauge: 3,521 km 1.435-m gauge (2,927 km electrified) (2005)

Highways
total: 149,757 km paved: 117,110 km (including 1,747 km of expressways) unpaved: 32,647 km (2003)

Waterways
2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2003)

Pipelines
gas 1,485 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2004)

Ports and harbours
Antwerp, Brussels, Gent, Liege, Oostende, Zeebrugge

Airports
43 (2007)

Heliports
1 (2007)

ARGENTINA

Country Profile In 1816, the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared their independence from Spain. After Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay went their separate ways, the area that remained became Argentina. The country's population and culture were heavily shaped by immigrants from throughout Europe, but most particularly Italy and Spain, which provided the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860 to 1930. Up until about the mid-20th century, much of Argentina's history was dominated by periods of internal political conflict between Federalists and Unitarians and between civilian and military factions. After World War II, an era of Peronist authoritarian rule and interference in subsequent governments was followed by a military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983, and has persisted despite numerous challenges, the most formidable of which was a severe economic crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent public protests and the resignation of several interim presidents. The economy has recovered strongly since bottoming out in 2002. Disputes Argentina continues to assert its claims to the UK-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in its constitution, forcibly occupying the Falklands in 1982, but in 1995 agreed no longer to seek settlement by force; territorial claim in Antarctica partially overlaps UK and Chilean claims (see Antarctic disputes); unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations; uncontested dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera/Brasiliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question; in January 2007, ICJ provisionally ruled Uruguay may begin construction of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with Argentina, while the court examines further whether Argentina has the legal right to stop such construction with potential environmental implications to both countries; the joint boundary commission, established by Chile and Argentina in 2001 has yet to map and demarcate the delimited boundary in the inhospitable Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de Hielo Sur) Location Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay Coordinates 34° 0' S 64° 0' W Capital Buenos Aires Main Cities Cordoba, La Plata, Mendoza, San Miguel Area 2766890 km2 Boundaries (km) 9,665 - Bolivia 832, Brazil 1,224, Chile 5,150, Paraguay 1,880, Uruguay 579 Coastline (km) 4,989 Timezone (GMT) -3 Population 40,677,348 (July 2008 est.) (Demographics) Public Holidays Revolution Day, 25 May (1810), 9 July 1816 (from Spain) Currency Argentine peso (ARS) GDP $523.7 billion (2007 est.) (Economic data) Main Exports soybeans and derivatives, petroleum and gas, vehicles, corn, wheat Climate mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest Natural Hazards San Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the Pampas and northeast; heavy flooding Physical Features Mainly rich plains ( the Pampas ) in the northern half, flat to rolling plateau (Patagonia) in south and rugged Andes along western border. Mt Aconcagua (6,960 m), Ojos del Salado (6,910 m), Patagonian desert (673,000 km2), Plata-Parana-Grande river (4,880 km) Environmental Agreements party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Flag Country Map(s)

Population and Demographics

Argentina has a population of 40,677,348 (July 2008 est.) .

Capital	Buenos Aires
Main urban areas	Cordoba, La Plata, Mendoza, San Miguel
Ethnic groups	white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo, Amerindian, or other nonwhite groups 3%
Languages spoken	Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French

Population age 0-14: 24.6% (m 5,123,722/f 4,893,843) 15-64: 64.6% (m 13,143,693/f 13,127,372) 65+: 10.8% (m 1,801,101/f 2,587,617) (2008 est.)
	0-14	15-64	65+
Gender ratios At birth: 1.05 m/f , 0-14: 1.05 m/f , 15-64: 1 m/f , 65+: 0.7 m/f Total population: 0.97 m/f (2008 est.)

Changing Population (Life expectancy, births, deaths and fertility)

The population growth rate for Argentina is 0.917% (2008 est.) (world growth rate at 2006 is 1.14%). The country also saw migration of 0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.). The median age of the country is total: 30.3 years male: 29.3 years female: 31.3 years (2008 est.).

Note: on the graphs, world figures are represented by a red bar, figures for Argentina are illustrated with a green bar.

Life Expectancy:	Total population: 76.52 years Male: 72.81 years Female: 80.43 years (2008 est.)	[76.52] [64.77] [ Male:, m] [63.16, m] [, f] [66.47, f]
Fertility:	2.09 children born/woman (2008 est.)	[2.09] [2.59]
Births:	16.32 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)	[16.32] [20.05]
Deaths:	7.54 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)	[7.54] [8.67]
Infants:	Total: 13.87 deaths/1,000 live births Male: 15.65 deaths/1,000 live births Female: 11.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)	[13.87] [48.87] [15.65, m] [50.98, m] [11.99, f] [46.65, f]

Economic Data

Economy Overview

Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Although one of the world’s wealthiest countries 100 years ago, Argentina suffered during most of the 20th century from recurring economic crises, persistent fiscal and current account deficits, high inflation, mounting external debt, and capital flight. A severe depression, growing public and external indebtedness, and a bank run culminated in 2001 in the most serious economic, social, and political crisis in the country’s turbulent history. Interim President Adolfo RODRIGUEZ SAA declared a default - the largest in history - on the government’s foreign debt in December of that year, and abruptly resigned only a few days after taking office. His successor, Eduardo DUHALDE, announced an end to the peso’s decade-long 1-to-1 peg to the US dollar in early 2002.

The economy bottomed out that year, with real GDP 18% smaller than in 1998 and almost 60% of Argentines under the poverty line. Real GDP rebounded to grow by an average 9% annually over the subsequent five years, taking advantage of previously idled industrial capacity and labor, an audacious debt restructuring and reduced debt burden, excellent international financial conditions, and expansionary monetary and fiscal policies. Inflation, however, reached double-digit levels in 2006 and the government of President Nestor KIRCHNER responded with "voluntary" price agreements with businesses, as well as export taxes and restraints. Multi-year price freezes on electricity and natural gas rates for residential users stoked consumption and kept private investment away, leading to restrictions on industrial use and blackouts in 2007.

Debt and Aid
Debt: $135.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Aid Given: N/A
Aid Received: $99.66 million (2005)

Labour Force
Number in labour force: 16.03 million note: urban areas only (2007 est.)
Sectors: agriculture: 1% industry: 23% services: 76% (2007 est.)
Unemployment: 14.1% (2007 est.)

GDP Facts and Figures
Currency: Argentine peso (ARS)
GDP: $523.7 billion (2007 est.)
GDP Per Capita: $13,300 (2007 est.)
GDP Real Growth: 8.7% (2007 est.)
GDP Composition: agriculture: 9.5% industry: 34% services: 56.5% (2007 est.)
Production Growth Rate: 7.5% (2007 est.)

Industries, Land Use and Resource Consumption
Industries: food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel
Land use: arable land: 10.03% permanent crops: 0.36% other: 89.61% (2005)
Exports: soybeans and derivatives, petroleum and gas, vehicles, corn, wheat
Electricity Consumption: 88.98 billion kWh (2005)
Natural Gas Consumption: 38.79 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Oil Consumption: 480,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Country Outline Map

Geographic Data
Argentina is located in Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay, in the timezone GMT -3. The country has boundaries of 9,665 - Bolivia 832, Brazil 1,224, Chile 5,150, Paraguay 1,880, Uruguay 579 (km), and a coastline of 4,989 (km). Major urban areas: Buenos Aires, Cordoba, La Plata, Mendoza, San Miguel.

Elevations
Lowest point: Salinas Chicas -40 m (located on Peninsula Valdes)
Highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,960 m

Physical Features
Mainly rich plains ( the Pampas ) in the northern half, flat to rolling plateau (Patagonia) in south and rugged Andes along western border. Mt Aconcagua (6,960 m), Ojos del Salado (6,910 m), Patagonian desert (673,000 km2), Plata-Parana-Grande river (4,880 km)

Hazards
San Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the Pampas and northeast; heavy flooding

Climate
Mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest

Natural Resources
Fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium

Land Use
Arable land: 10.03% permanent crops: 0.36% other: 89.61% (2005)

Renewable Water Resources
814 cu km (2000)

Fresh Water Withdrawal
total: 29.19 cu km/yr (17%/9%/74%) per capita: 753 cu m/yr (2000)

Environmental Issues
Environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution note: Argentina is a world leader in setting voluntary greenhouse gas targets

Detailed country map

Transport and Communications

A selection of key transport and communications information for Argentina

Number of main telephone lines
9.46 million (2006)

Mobile (cellular) phones
31.51 million (2006)

Radio stations
AM 260 (includes 10 inactive stations), FM (probably more than 1,000, mostly unlicensed), shortwave 6 (1998)

Television stations
42 (plus 444 repeaters) (1997)

Internet users
8.184 million (2006)

Country internet code
.ar

Railways
total: 31,902 km broad gauge: 20,858 km 1.676-m gauge (141 km electrified) standard gauge: 2,885 km 1.435-m gauge (26 km electrified) narrow gauge: 7,922 km 1.000-m gauge; 237 km 0.750-m gauge (2005)

Highways
total: 229,144 km paved: 68,809 km (including 734 km of expressways) unpaved: 160,335 km (2004)

Waterways
11,000 km (2005)

Pipelines
gas 27,166 km; liquid petroleum gas 41 km; oil 3,668 km; refined products 2,945 km; unknown (oil/water) 13 km (2004)

Ports and harbours
Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, Punta Colorada, Rosario, San Lorenzo-San Martin, San Nicolas

Airports
1,272 (2007)

Heliports
1 (2007)